Park lock arrangement for continuously variable transmission

Abstract

A park lock arrangement for use in a continuously variable transmission including a housing, an end cover and a casing having one end portion coupled with the housing and the opposite end portion coupled with the end cover. The casing has an inwardly recessed portion to define a reduced container space. A follower shaft supporting a follower pulley has one end portion rotatably supported on the end cover and the opposite end portion extending into the housing. A driver gear is mounted on the opposite end portion of the follower shaft. A parking gear is disposed on the follower shaft between the follower pulley and the driver gear. A control shaft extends through the reduced container space and has one end portion projecting outwardly from the inwardly recessed portion of the casing. The control shaft drivingly supports a park lock mechanism for locking the parking gear. The park lock mechanism is disposed within the reduced container space.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A park lock arrangement for use in a continuously variable transmission, comprising: a housing;   an end cover;   a casing having one end portion coupled with the housing and an opposite end portion coupled with the end cover, the casing having an inwardly recessed portion defining a reduced container space;   a rotatable shaft extending through the housing, the casing, and the end cover;   a parking gear disposed on the rotatable shaft;   a park lock mechanism for locking the parking gear disposed within the reduced container space;   a control shaft rotatably disposed at the one end portion of the casing and drivingly supporting the park lock mechanism, the control shaft having one end portion projecting outwardly from the casing through the reduced container space; and   a cable connected to the control shaft,   wherein the casing is formed with a cable guide portion connected to the inwardly recessed portion.   
     
     
       2. A park lock arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control shaft is located at a front portion of the casing. 
     
     
       3. A park lock arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a control valve body secured to the casing and supporting an opposite end portion of the control shaft. 
     
     
       4. A park lock arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the park lock mechanism includes a pawl adapted to engage the parking gear, and an actuator operatively connected to the pawl. 
     
     
       5. A park lock arrangement according to claim 4, further comprising a pulley mounted on the rotatable shaft, the pulley including a cylindrical portion with a reduced diameter radially opposed to the cable guide portion. 
     
     
       6. A park lock arrangement for use in a continuously variable transmission, comprising: a housing;   an end cover;   a casing having one end portion coupled with the housing and an opposite end portion coupled with the end cover, the casing having an inwardly recessed portion defining a first reduced container space inside the casing and a mounting space outside the casing;   a direction change planetary gearing having an input shaft;   a driver shaft coaxial with the input shaft;   a follower shaft extending parallel to the driver shaft, the follower shaft having one end portion rotatably supported on the end cover, an intermediate portion rotatably supported on the casing, and an opposite end portion extending into the housing;   a continuously variable ratio change unit including a driver pulley mounted on the driver shaft, a follower pulley mounted on the follower shaft, and a V-belt interconnecting the driver pulley and the follower pulley;   a differential;   a gear train drivingly disposed between the continuously variable ratio change unit and the differential, the gear train including a driver gear mounted on the opposite end portion of the follower shaft;   a parking gear disposed on the follower shaft between the follower pulley and the driver gear;   a park lock mechanism for locking the parking gear;   a control shaft extending through the first reduced container space and drivingly supporting the park lock mechanism, the control shaft having one end portion projecting outwardly from the inwardly recessed portion of the casing and disposed in the mounting space; and   a cable connected to the control shaft,   wherein the driver shaft and the park lock mechanism are disposed within the first reduced container space, and wherein the casing is formed with a cable guide portion connected to the inwardly recessed portion.   
     
     
       7. A park lock arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the casing defines a second container space adjacent the first reduced container space in which the follower shaft, the gear train, and the differential are partly disposed. 
     
     
       8. A park lock arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the park lock mechanism includes a pawl arranged to be engageable with the parking gear, and an actuator operatively connected to the pawl. 
     
     
       9. A park lock arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the control shaft is disposed at the one end portion of the casing. 
     
     
       10. A park lock arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the cable is disposed in the mounting space. 
     
     
       11. A park lock arrangement according to claim 6, further comprising a control valve body secured to the casing and supporting an opposite end portion of the control shaft. 
     
     
       12. A park lock arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the follower pulley includes a cylindrical portion with a reduced diameter radially opposed to the cable guide portion.